Ear clip



Jul 25, 1944. s. PLOSKY EAR CLIP Filed Aug. 29, 1942 l INVENTOR SaulFlashy WITNESSES ORNEY$ Patented July 25, 1944 a device of the indicatedcharacter which may be readily slipped on the lobe of the ear inselfclamping engagement therewith and which is prevented fromaccidentally slipping out of place or off of the ear, but which may bepurposely removed from the ear whenever desired by a simplemanipulation.

A further object is to provide an ear clip having the aforesaidattributes, which may be used as an ear ornament in itself, or serve asa means for supporting or suspending a separate article of jewelry as anear ornament of any suitable or preferred kind.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features andadvantages will appear when the following specification is read inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, in

- which- Fig. 1 is a view showing the clip in use;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, the section being taken approximately on theline 22 of Fig. 1 and looking. in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, the section being taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a side view;

Fig. 5 is a top view;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view, the section being taken on theline 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a view of the ear-clamping member detached;

Fig. 8 is a section of the ear-clamping member taken on the line 8-8 ofFig. 7; and

Fig. 9 ,is a perspective view of the main part of the clip.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 3 to 9, inclusive, it will beapparent that the device of the present invention includes a main part Iwhich is of U-shape, thereby providing spaced portions II andl2,,respectively, joined by a connecting portion or bight I3.

In the present instance, the portion II is somewhat longer and alsonarrower than the portion I2. The'portion II constitutes an earengagingmember. The portion I2 is relatively wide in order to accommodate anear-clamping member I4, and is provided with an opening I for thatpurpose. The ear-clamping member I4 is shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and7. The member I4 in the present instance is preferably in the form of aring or annulus, to present a curved :periphery which is. milledorserrated to provide small rprojections. orratchet teeth I6.

The member I4 has asradially-inwardlyextending lug and sleeve Il havinga hole I8 therein. In order to=mountthe;ear clampin member l4 infunctioning position on the mainpart III, the portion II hastransversely aligned bearings I9 near its upper end. The member I4 isdisposed in the opening I5 with the lug I'l disposed in registry withthe bearings I9. An arbor 20 is supported by: the bearings I9 andextends through the hole I8 in the lug II. In this manner theear-clamping member I4 is eccentrically mounted on the main part ID tocooperate with the ear-engaging portion II for the purpose of setting upa clamping or gripping action. Resilient means constantly urges theear-clamping member I4 toward the ear-engaging portion II. The resilientmeans in the present instance consists of a coil spring 2| arranged onthe sleeve of the lug I1, and one end 22 of the spring bears on theear-clamping member I4 on the inside thereof, and the other end 23 ofthe spring is bent around the portion I2 and extends in a groove thereinto prevent the displacement of said end 23. The member I4 engages thecross-piece 24 to limit the pivotal movement of the member I4 in onedirection under the action of the spring 2|.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that there is described aprovision and arrangement of parts constituting an ear clip in which anear-clamping member is supported on the main part of the clip, said mainpart being of U- shape to provide spaced portions, one of which carriesthe clamping member while the other itself serves as an ear-engagingmember, said ear-clamping member projecting into the space between theupstandingportions of the main part in order to cooperate with theear-engaging portion to clampingly engage the lobe of the ear to retainthe clip on the ear of the wearer. The ear-clamping member I4 presents acurved ser-. rated surface may impinge against and grip the lobe of theear. The device is one which may be readily slipped on the lobe of theear in self-clamping engagement therewith, and is prevented, due to theclamping or gripping power of the member I4, from accidentaly slippingout of place or ofi of the ear. In this connection it is to be observedthat downward pull on the clip causes the clamping member I4 to impingewith increasing pressure. However, the

clip may be purposely removed from the ear whenever desired by simplymoving the member l4 against the action of the spring to disengage thesame from the lobe of the ear. This may be conveniently accomplished byvirtue of any one of the projections l6 which may be engaged by a thumbnail to unclamp the member l4.

It is to be understood that the device may be used for engaging an earornament 25 to a persons ear, in which said ornament is suspended fromthe bight 13 of the part ID, as shown in Figs. 1 and; 2,-.or, the earornament may be directly affixed tdlithrhdin fiart 'lfl. Anyearornaniait having a hook or loop may be passed over the portion H ofthe main part In so as to hang; downwardly from the bight l3 and freelyswing thereon.

It is to be understood that the devicemay'be made of precious or basemetal, or any other suit able material or combination-of materials."

It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to theprecise construction shown, as

An earclip comprising a main part formed to 2,354,610 i .z-i QQjQ 2provide spaced portions in continuation of each other, an ear-clampingmember projecting through an opening in the first of said spacedportions, said ear-clamping member being in the form of a ring andhaving a radially inwardly extending lug, an arbor on said first portionextending through said lug to mount the ear-clamping member so as tocooperate with the second of said spaced portions to clampingly engagthe lobe of the, ear, a springhaving the oppositeflendsrthereof inengagement with said firs: spaced portion and the ear-clampingmemberespectively, said spring constantly urging the ear-clamping memberinto cooperative position, and said ear-clamping member being engageablewith the ear lobe as the latter is brought between s'a id spacedportions and the ear-clamping member 'under the influence of the springthereby clamping said lobe with increasing pressure by reason of anydownward pull on the clip, and said ear-clamping member. being.manipulatable to'release said member to remove the clip from the lobe. a

- SAUL PLOSKY.

